The Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., birthplace of the WEC, plays host to a familiar face as former WEC lightweight champion “Razor” Rob McCullough (17-6) headlines the newest edition of Tachi Palace Fights.

McCullough faces King of the Cage and EliteXC veteran Thomas Denny (27-18) in the featured bout of Tachi Palace Fights 5 on July 9.

In Tachi Palace Fights’ most talent-laden card to date, the event features notables John Alessio, Brad Blackburn, Cole Escovedo, David Kaplan, David Mitchell, Gabe Ruediger and the MMA debut of grappling wizard Bill Cooper.

McCullough was released by the WEC after dropping a split decision to Karen Darabedyan at WEC 44 this past November. Just 2-3 in his past five outings, McCullough moves up to a catchweight of 160 pounds for the contest.

Meanwhile, Denny returns to the cage for the first time since an August 2009 win over Joe Cronin. The “Wildman” has been fighting professionally since 1999. Denny is perhaps best-known for the two high-profile contests he dropped to Pat Miletich and Nick Diaz in 2008, but he’s also faced Alessio, Chris Brennan, Yves Edwards, Alex Karalexis, Duane “Bang” Ludwig, Fredson Paixao, Georges St-Pierre and Joe Stevenson, among others.

With eight submission wins in 10 career victories, Mitchell’s current run includes wins over Tim McKenzie, Bobby Green and War Machine, and he appears primed for a slot in one of the sport’s biggest organizations.

Meanwhile, Martinez will provide a stiff test in his bid for the belt. Fighting professionally since 2003, Martinez has earned 16 stoppages in his 18 career wins.

Also on the card, UFC veterans Alessio (28-13) and Blackburn (15-11-1) meet in a welterweight special attraction, while Escovedo (16-4) puts his bantamweight title on the line against Michael McDonald (9-1) in a rematch of their 2009 Palace Fighting Championship bout.

Story updated on 5/21/10 at 12:45 p.m. ET to clarify that McCullough and Denny will fight at a catchweight of 160 pounds. Initial reports from Tachi Palace Fights officials had the fight listed as a welterweight contest.

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